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When you're a U.S. citizen, the speed at which you can procure an international travel visa depends entirely on where you're going. Visa regulations vary depending on the country -- while some countries don't require visas for temporary visits, others won't let you cross their borders at all without a visa. In some cases, you can obtain a visa in a matter of minutes.

Needing a Visa

Depending on where you're going and how long you're staying there, you may not need a visa at all. For example, Europe is home to a union of more than two dozen countries, including France and Germany, that are collectively called the Schengen Area. As an American citizen, you only need a passport to visit this area, and you can stay there as a traveler for up to 90 days. Before you try to obtain a visa, check with the consulate or embassy of the country to which you are traveling to see if you need one.

How to Apply

Applying for and receiving a visa may take weeks or minutes -- it all depends on where you're going. Many countries, such as China, require you or someone representing you to visit an embassy in the United States and apply -- a Chinese visa can take four business days to obtain and requires two visits to the embassy. Other countries may have more relaxed requirements and allow you to obtain a visa with little to no planning ahead. If you are visiting Egypt, for example, you can simply purchase a tourist visa at the Egyptian airport when you land.

Speeding Up the Paperwork

If you're concerned about the time it takes to apply for a visa, you can pay a visa service to handle the application for you. Because some countries allow you to send a personal representative with your paperwork to apply in person for a visa, you can pay a visa service to take care of your application. After you pay the service and provide it with your application paperwork, the company sends a representative to the embassy on your behalf, so you don't have to waste time waiting in lines or traveling back and forth.

Expedited Services

Should you need a visa quickly because of an emergency, contact the embassy nearest you and inquire about expedited and/or emergency visa services. Some countries, such as Brazil and China, do not generally offer expedited visa services, except for occasional emergency situations. Emergency visas are issued on a case-by-case basis, so if you need to get into the country because of an emergency, you must explain the situation to the embassy yourself.

About the Author

Tom Ryan is a freelance writer, editor and English tutor. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in English writing, and has also worked as an arts and entertainment reporter with "The Pitt News" and a public relations and advertising copywriter with the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

Leaf Group is a USA TODAY content partner providing general travel information. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.